On Wednesday, 13th May, authorities in Kabul signed a $46.3 million agreement with an Indian company to strengthen Afghanistan’s laboratory and quality control infrastructure at major trade and border points across the country. The deal was signed between Afghanistan’s National Standards and Quality Authority (ASQA) and the Indian firm TCRC Group (Formerly known as Therapeutics Chemical Research Corporation) as part of a five-year project aimed at modernising testing and inspection systems.
According to Taliban officials, the agreement includes the construction and installation of advanced laboratory complexes in Kabul and at nine important border crossings and commercial hubs. The laboratories will be equipped to test construction materials, electrical products, textiles, leather items and paper goods.
Video: The Afghanistan National Standards Authority said it has signed a contract worth more than $46 million with the Indian international company (TCRC) to build and equip advanced laboratory complexes in the capital and at nine border crossings across the country.
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In a statement, the Taliban administration said the project is meant to “strengthen quality infrastructure, improve laboratory capacity and standardise property quality assessment processes.” Officials described the agreement as an important step towards improving Afghanistan’s trade system and preventing the import of low-quality products.
The project will also include upgrading existing laboratories, installing modern testing equipment and calibration systems, and providing technical training for Afghan staff. Taliban authorities said foreign experts would also be brought in to help improve the professional skills of local personnel. Plans to obtain international ISO certifications for the laboratories are also part of the agreement.
The deal comes at a time when Afghanistan’s economy continues to struggle after the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. International sanctions, frozen foreign assets and the suspension of development aid have severely affected the country’s financial condition, making such a large foreign-backed investment notable.
The agreement also reflects the gradual improvement in ties between India and the Taliban-led administration in Kabul. Earlier this month, the Taliban government officially appointed its first chargé d’affaires at the Afghan embassy in India, even though New Delhi has not formally recognised the Taliban regime.
Taliban officials called the agreement “an important and vital step towards strengthening the quality assessment and control system, supporting standard products, preventing the import of inferior quality goods and further development of quality infrastructure in Afghanistan.”
Mumbai-based TCRC Group works in the field of third-party inspection and specialises in pre-shipment and shipment inspections, which include quality assurance, cargo supervision, and analysis of various commodities crucial to both export and import sectors, helping clients meet international standards.
The company’s portfolio includes the analysis of coal, coke, minerals, ores, chemicals, fertilisers, oil cakes/extractions, metals, agricultural products, food, and environmental testing, among others.
